After being passed down three generations, this family gave their country home a deserved makeover

The Moseleys’ home was originally bought by Ally’s grandparents back in the 1950s, and it was long overdue a renovation when the family took on the property in 2014. “There were some less-than- sympathetic ‘improvements’ that had been made, and I was itching to bring back some period charm,” she explains. “The kitchen, which I was determined to get done first, marked the start of a three-year renovation. I thought it would be much easier to cope with a growing family, during the renovations, if the kitchen space was already completed.”

With the building works done, and a clear vision for what they wanted the kitchen space to become, Ally set out to find a company to interpret their ideas, and craft the bespoke furniture they had in mind. Churchwood Design was not only local, but the family firm demonstrated that they clearly understood the Moseleys’ desires. “Charlotte’s design was wonderful, and there were in fact very few changes to her initial concept,” Ally explains.

“I wanted the space to be open and sociable, with a place for everything and everything in its place,” Ally recalls. “Lots of refrigerated food storage
was a must, as was incorporating my Lacanche range cooker. Style-wise we wanted a look that would complement the house’s turn-of-the-century origins while still being sleek and modern.”

“The design was a blend of contemporary convenience and period style,” explains Charlotte Ambler, designer at Churchwood Design and the daughter of the firm’s founders. “The use of separate pieces of furniture alongside fitted elements helped the space to feel more authentic, as well as more homely.”

A pale, neutral colour palette – punctuated by the vibrant blue of the range cooker and colour- matched sideboard – ensures a light, inviting feel. Indeed, the family now spends all their time in here, and it’s a place that Ally’s parents gravitate towards as well. “They often walk over from their home, which is across the lawn, and come into the kitchen for a chat and a cup of tea or coffee,” she says. “It’s such a beautiful space to relax in.”

It’s not just the perfect room for the Moseleys, it’s proven one of Charlotte’s favourite recent projects, too. “We are delighted with how it turned out; it would have been easy to over-design it, which I think would have been too much for the property; I think it strikes the perfect balance,” she smiles.